Heart Disease Health Center

Tools & Resources

Ambulatory Electrocardiogram

Guide

How It Is Done continued...

You will need to
keep a diary of all your activities and symptoms while you wear the continuous recorder. You will write down the type of
activity you were doing and the time your symptoms started. For example, write
down the exact times when you:

Exercise or climb stairs.

Eat.

Urinate or have a
bowel movement.

Have sex.

Sleep.

Get upset.

Take medicine.

If you have any symptoms of heart problems, such as
dizziness, fainting, chest pain, or abnormal heartbeats, push the event-marker button
on the recorder to mark it. Then write down the exact time and how long the
symptom lasts. For example, you might write: "12:30 p.m. Ate lunch. 1:00 p.m.
Argument with boss, had chest tightness for several minutes."

Try to sleep on your back with the recorder placed
carefully at your side. This will help keep the electrodes from getting pulled off. If
one of the electrodes or lead wires comes loose, a light on the monitor will
flash. Press on the center of each electrode to see if you can restore the
contact. Call your doctor if one of the electrodes comes off and you can't get
it to stay on.

While you are wearing a monitor, try to stay away from magnets, remote controls for garage door openers, microwave ovens, and
electric blankets. Do not use an electric toothbrush or shaver. And try to stay away from metal detectors and high-voltage areas. Signals from
these types of electronic equipment can sometimes affect the recording.

What you and your doctor do after the test

At the end of the recording period (usually 24 to 72 hours), you will
go to the doctor's office or hospital to have the electrodes removed. Or
you may be able to take off the electrodes yourself. You will return the monitor to your doctor's office or hospital. The recording will be
read by a computer. This will give information about your heart rate, how often
your heart beats, and any signs of an abnormal heartbeat.

Your doctor will also look at your records of activities and symptoms and times they occurred. Your doctor will compare the timing
of your activities and symptoms with the recorded heart pattern.